Two premature infants born at Bolzano Hospital died just hours apart on August 12th and the night of August 13th following an infection with Serratia marcescens, a bacterium ranked among the top ten causes of hospital-acquired infections. The Bolzano Prosecutor’s Office has tasked the NAS (Carabinieri Health Protection Unit) with preliminary investigations to verify compliance with hospital protocols and identify any potential hygiene deficiencies within the San Maurizio Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Upon concluding initial inquiries, prosecutors will determine whether to proceed with autopsies and potential charges, ranging from non-criminal acts to involuntary manslaughter against unknown persons or specific suspects. The infants’ bodies are currently preserved pending autopsy. Until further notice, no other premature newborns will be admitted to the NICU.
“The infants were born in a high-risk situation due to extreme prematurity at 23 and 27 weeks gestation,” explained Pierpaulo Bertoli, Director of the South Tyrol Health Authority. “Following the outbreak, we were able to identify this specific bacterium. Tragically, the infants subsequently developed sepsis with fatal consequences. The presence of this bacterium is not unique; it poses a constant risk in NICUs, primarily due to the extreme vulnerability of these tiny patients stemming from their immature immune systems, rather than the specific type of germ itself.” Bertoli confirmed that the NICU team, hospital management, and the Health Authority Directorate have implemented enhanced safety measures beyond standard protocols. These include identifying potential infection sources, intensifying controls, comprehensive environmental disinfection, and isolation procedures.
“The death of these two infants deeply affects us all. It is an immense tragedy when a life just begun is extinguished so soon,” stated Health Councillor Hubert Messner, a former head of Bolzano’s Neonatology Department. “My thoughts are first and foremost with the affected families, to whom I extend my deepest condolences. As a neonatologist, I know the NICU team led by Chief Physician Alex Staffler, and I know they all operate with great professionalism, both medically and humanely. I support all necessary measures to overcome this difficult situation and thank everyone working for the good of our youngest patients.”
According to a study by the University of Genoa (“Serratia marcescens in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Outbreaks and Control Measures”), the pathogen responsible “spreads rapidly in the hospital environment and is responsible for outbreaks in NICUs, causing potentially fatal sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia in very premature or low-birth-weight infants, with mortality rates as high as 45%.” The study further notes that colonized or infected infants “represent the most significant potential reservoir of S. marcescens, particularly in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts,” and transmission commonly occurs via the hands of healthcare personnel.
In a similar incident in August 2018, an infant died from an infection at Brescia’s Civili Hospital, while other pediatric patients who contracted the bacterium responded positively to antibiotic treatment.